Heat production from low wear friction - efficiency

AI Thread Summary
Efficient methods for producing heat from low wear friction include stirring viscous liquids, a process explored in historical experiments. Friction is inherently efficient at generating heat, though it typically results in energy loss. The discussion raises the question of whether friction can occur without wear, suggesting a potential for heat generation without material degradation. The relationship between mechanical processes and the physics of heat is noted as a fascinating area of study. Overall, the conversation highlights the complexities and historical context of friction and heat production.
jon c
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heat production from low wear friction - efficiency

What are some efficient methods of producing heat from low wear friction?

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Friction is always almost perfectly efficient at producing heat...I'm not sure what you are really looking for.
 
russ_watters said:
Friction is always almost perfectly efficient at producing heat...
I think that's something like an oxymoron (there's an equivalent for statements, I believe). Efficiency normally refers to the system losing energy through friction. Friction always produces Heat and sometimes a small amount of electric charge separation.

If you want low wear with heat production then stirring a viscous liquid would be one way. Joule and others did experiments with this method, years ago. A very painstaking process.
 
That was all good, thankyou

My next question is: can there exist friction without wear? I will run this a separate thread. (This would then by definition be heat generation with no wear.) Interesting someone said that studies have been done with viscous fluids.
 
Have a look at this.
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mechanical_equivalent_of_heat"
 
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Nice article thankyou.
I find this subject fascinating. The relationship between the large scale mechanical world and the physics of matter. Also it is amazing how these fundamental relationships (heat and force) were only fully accepted and unified about 150 years ago.
 

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